I recall Willem Dafoe’s characterization of Carson Clay, the self-absorbed film director from Mr. Bean’s
Holiday. He’s an auteur; a man aware of his own cinematic genius, a man
whose name inspires mawkish reactions from true connoisseurs, as if watching
his films makes you all the more clever than the popcorn-gobbling commoners.
Nicolas Winding Refn seems like the living embodiment of this kind of
character, to the point that the opening title of his latest film The Neon Demon even bears the “NWR”
monogram, as if such initials are telling us something of the quality of the
cinema we’re about to experience. Refn’s Drive
(2011) received all sorts of praise from heady critics (while recognizing some
high-quality imagery, pacing and cinematography, I didn’t like is as much as
others), while 2013’s Only God Forgives
polarized the film community.

The Neon Demon
isn’t your standard narrative film, relying on a lot of audio/visual metaphors
over linear storytelling. It’s the tale of Jesse (Elle Fanning), a beautiful
young girl who left her small town to seek stardom as a fashion model in
southern California. After her first test shoot, Jesse is befriended by makeup
artist Ruby (Jenna Malone), who invites her to an upscale cocktail party where
she meets two narcissistic models named Sara and Gigi (Abby Lee and Bella
Heathcoate). Jesse is also courted by Dean (Karl Glushman), the young
photographer from her test shoot. While waiting for her big fashion break,
Jesse lives in the dilapidated motel where the heartless and perverted manager Hank
(Keanu Reeves) keeps a close eye on her and other star struck kids stay in
hopes of making it big. After going for a drive with Dean one night, Jesse
returns to her motel room to find a cougar inside. The next day, Jesse attends
a casting call with Roberta (Christina Hendricks) and is offered her big shot
at stardom. She is photographed by powerful fashion artist “Mikey” (Charles
Baker), and chosen to close for a major fashion show, much to the envy of Sara and
Gigi. During the show, Jesse is overcome and seduced by her own beauty, which
alters her personality from an aspiring waif to a self-centered predator. Her
hubris invokes the ire of Ruby (who is sexually attracted to her) and Sara and
Gigi, who have gruesome plans to bring her down.

The Neon Demon is
not a film for anyone who enjoys a linear narrative. It’s also not for anyone
who is squeamish about sex, gore, necrophilia, language or films made by self-absorbed
cinematic auteurs. It’s a movie full of metaphors meant to depict the lure of
fame and beauty, along with the predatory nature of those who possess both. It’s
sort of like a perfume commercial, except the models are into cannibalism and
other strange vices.

Nicolas Winding Refn is a talented artist (like he’d let us
forget) and his style has a certain appeal. If you enjoy that kind of cinema
art, then The Neon Demon is for you.